Western News

Global symposium on fugitives under way in Montego Bay

MORE than 120 fugitive investigators from across the world have gathered in Montego Bay for the 7th Operational Global Symposium on Fugitives, which is being held from December 5 to 8.

The conference is being staged by the International Criminal Police Organisation (Interpol), in collaboration with the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF). Interpol is the world's largest international police organisation and has a total of 192 member countries.

Assistant director of Interpol's Fugitive Investigative Support Sub-directorate Ioannis Kokkinis told JIS News that the conference is expected to provide a unique opportunity for fugitive investigators to meet, work together and build trust amongst each other.

He said the core outcome is to establish a strong network of fugitive investigators from around the world.

Kokkinis said 127 participants from Interpol's member countries, among them representatives from Australia, China, Qatar, Greece, Guatemala and others, are in attendance. These representatives include officers from various police services, national and regional bureaus, including Interpol's own regional departments, as well as from specialised units and the Fugitive Investigative Support Sub-directorate.

“We are going to have the symposium in a unique format, not just the classical conference but a new model of all working together on real cases. We are going to share information, and when all colleagues go back home, they are going to continue under this strong network that they are going to build in Montego Bay,” Kokkinis said.

He said Jamaica was chosen because it was one of the first willing countries to host this event.

“When we had to initiate the procedure to find a place where the event would be hosted, Jamaica was one of the main supporters. During the last six months, the Jamaica Constabulary Force, and mainly the National Intelligence Bureau, supported Interpol and my unit to organise this event. I hope, and I am sure, that the results will be more than positive for the global community,” he said.

Acting chief technical director of research, rehabilitation and diversion policy in the Ministry of National Security, Mitsy Beaumont-Daley, said the Government is cognisant of the importance of having Interpol as a strategic partner in its fight against transnational organised crime, and that initiatives such as the Interpol conference will help to bring the fugitives to justice.

She said a concerted and collaborative approach that transcends national borders and various disciplines is required at the global level in order to effectively tackle the issue of international organised crime, as locating fugitives requires a high level of cooperation between governments, police authorities and international organisations.

“As we live in this global world, we live with many benefits and corresponding challenges. The use of technology has allowed us to transact legitimate business quicker and easier. While this has benefited many countries in the form of increased trade, it has also increased and expanded criminal activities,” she declared.

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